Orientite is a rare manganese silicate mineral typically occurring as small brown tabular crystals or radial clusters. It is highly valued by mineral collectors for its scarcity and is famously associated with manganese-rich deposits in Cuba and the Franklin Mining District.
Is this orientite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch orientite with a known reference. Orientite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Orientite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Orientite typically shows a vitreous to pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Orientite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Epidote is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Orientite leaves yellowish brown, Epidote leaves white; luster reads vitreous to pearly on Orientite and vitreous on Epidote.
How to tell apart: Piemontite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Orientite leaves yellowish brown, Piemontite leaves reddish-brown; luster reads vitreous to pearly on Orientite and vitreous on Piemontite.
Often found alongside orientite
Minerals reported to co-occur with orientite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Mn³⁺₆O₈(Si₄O₁₂)·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 3.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese Deposits in Sedimentary or Metamorphic Environments
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find orientite
Classic worldwide localities
- Oriente Province, Cuba
- Franklin, New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese deposits in sedimentary or metamorphic environments country, the host setting where orientite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, hausmannite, braunite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find orientite on the map
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